Smooth sailing, Shir. I know that feeling (who doesn't, right?), and I wish for you that everything holds together and goes as needed to keep you on our side of the edge!

Congrats to your cousin, sj!

Anne -- I am keeping you in my thoughts. It can be so hard, but even if you can't see it yourself right now, we all can -- you're amazingly talented and kind and skilled.

Some adjacent drama in our house this holiday season--our housemate hasn't talked to his family in years, but last week he got a call telling him that his youngest brother tried to cross a freeway on foot in the middle of the night out in Sacramento and didn't make it. The location of the incident was 30 miles away from anywhere he usually goes, and the tox screens aren't turning up drugs or alcohol, so the reason for it all is still a mystery.

Our housemate is only now beginning to get any kind of financial stability in his life, so he's pulling together money to go out there and find a motel to stay in, because none of the resident family wants to see him, due to some decades-old grudge that seems to be the signature of those particular family members. Also, most of the rest of the family wants nothing to do with their father, due to the reasons why Mom is in one state and Dad is in another. Dad lives a couple of miles from our house and isn't a pleasant person, aside from being not quite competent in the life-management arena.

So our housemate is dealing with grief and family shenanigans, plus he was the one who got to go tell Dad that one of his sons was dead. Also, he learned last night that they've decided to go with cremation, due to the state of, as Mike put it, "what's left."

These kinds of things are hard enough to cope with without people indulging in soap operas.

"Christmas" dinner with the old man tonight. Can't wait to bask in that Teutonic warmth. Bazinga!

"Christmas" dinner with the old man tonight. Can't wait to bask in that Teutonic warmth. Bazinga!

Bring your dirty looks and a full supply of under-the-breath muttering.

I always do. Although I'm not being entirely fair, he spent four whole minutes Liking Facebook updates of mine...obviously the sign of a caring individual.

Oh, Connie, how awful for your housemate. Good god.

Connie, peace~ma for your roommate.

Continued medical mystery~ma for your mom, Shir. And some holding it together~ma for you.

erika, it sucks that time spent with the old man is of such suckitude. But you and Hec talking about it? Pure comedy gold.

Today is the 7th anniversary of my first date with TCG.

7 years? Unpossible!

Thanks, WS.